Dead Space 2 Doubt

Hey guys, just a quick question here.
I'm in my third playthrough on Dead Space 2, on hardcore difficulty (first time in hardcore, and I'm well aware of how omfg-tough it is).

Is it wise to completely bail the plasma cutter (both plasma cutter and pulse rifle are upgraded) and favor another weapon?

I was thinking on doing Pulse Rifle, Line Gun, mine-thingy I forgot the name and Contact Beam.

Or should I sacrifice Contact Beam and favor Plasma Cutter?

Thanks ~

*edit*
scratch Mine Launcher, if I eff up the mine AoE damage may kill me in one hit.

Don't upgrade line gun, use it but don't upgrade; it can one shot the bigger guys that huck ***at you in 0G if you use its alt fire. Force gun is great for crowds.

Also, upgraded secondary fire on the Seeker Rifle will 2-shot the final boss.

Plasma Cutter was always the trustiest weapon for me but you're gonna end up flinging limbs and debris everywhere more often anyways. Well, for me at least, smart ammo conservation is for squares and dweebs.

I ran outa nodes because I upgraded Pulse Rifle...
Actually I could go back to the save prior to finishing it and grab the nodes back, and then upgrade the Seeker Rifle hmm....

Was never a big fan of Force Gun, but truthfully I've never tried.

Also just a information: Obviously Statis is upgraded too~

Plasma Cutter was useful for the smaller enemies that came in huge swarms. I focused upgrading the Seeker Rifle, mainly capacity.

I only went with Fully upgrading Seeker Rifle and PLasma cutter, and plasma cutter or GTFO, and I <3 hardcore, then I got many many many lulz with the handcannon, now i can't play the game wihtout thinking about it.

I did Zealot with just the Plasma Cutter. It's too bad Dead Space 2 didn't have the One Gun trophy too.

Haha that'd be nice, even without it, its still a feat to accomplish.

Has anyone beat hardcore?
I'm wondering how exactly to strategize my 3 saves.
Does it save progress when you die or are you sent all the way back to your previous save?

I just HAVE TO unlock this if its the last thing I do.

previous save and they say to make your first save in like chapter 6. other than that before CS instant death chances like ... hit button fast enough or die etc etc